The nature of Elizabethan monarchy: Government and parliament
How important was the Privy Council in the government in England?
Important Not important
Vital in influencing decisions and She was no obligation to accept their
gaining patronage advice but rarely ignored it
Summoned no more than a dozen at a She had the ultimate authority – she
time showing that, in numbers, she consulted widely and even confided in
knew they could be powerful foreign monarchs, but the decisions
Responded to crises such as French were hers to make
intervention in Scotland in 1559 or the Elizabeth mainly relied on the advice of
arrival of MQoS in 1568 Cecil, Dudley, Bacon, and Parry in her
E was open to influence from members early reign
of her court Lords Lieutenants informed the Privy
Earl of Sussex was much involved in Council of any local unrest
marriage negotiations – only joined the JPs were responsible for maintaining
Council after his sterling defeat of the law and order – they could be lazy
Northern Rebellion though and ignored ‘lesser offences’
No exercise of individual power – there like not attending church
was collective responsibility
Lord Lieutenants – heads of each county, informed the Privy Council of any unrest
1580s – permitted to retain the office for life
They levied forced loans, supervised JPs
Much of the work was done by Deputy Lieutenants
Average 50 JPs per county
JPs developed an esprit de corps – emphasis on local concerns, exclusion of wider concerns
1/3 JPs replaced upon E’s accession
How influential was William Cecil?
Influential Not influential
Their relationship lasted 40 years until He was not the only Councillor to
his death in 1598 whom the queen paid heed
He was 38 and she was 25 when she She would consult other councillors
took the throne – she saw him as a individually on some issues and
trustworthy, support system Leicester and Hatton were her
Created an intelligence service favourites for this
Managed the Houses of Commons and Hatton and Leicester were given
Lords nicknames
Created a propaganda system
Drafted E’s correspondence with
foreign ambassadors
Ensured efficiency on the Privy Council
Pursued a prudent economic policy so
that debt was small when E died
His work rate was incredible
Involved in all the important decisions
of E’s reign (most notably the execution
of MQoS)
Threatened to resign unless E agreed to
help the Lords of the Congregation in
, Scotland against the French invaders
Appointed Master of the Wards in 1561
Received up to 100 letters daily from
people asking for his favour
He had ‘hired pens’ such as Thomas
Norton who wrote a play ‘Gorboduc’
for the queen about disaster befalling a
kingdom that had no settled succession
Experienced – first worked under
Somerset and was a Privy Councillor in
1550 under Northumberland
How successfully did Elizabeth manage faction?
Successful Not successful
Often used it to her advantage and Leicester easily took offence, and he
played factions against one another was resentful of the rise of Christopher
When a duel between Howard and Hatton and of the influence of Thomas
Leicester became possible after Heneage
Howard accused Dudley of murdering Christopher Haigh said that warfare
his wife, E took marriage with Dudley nearly broke out because Leicester and
off the table Sussex
Managed factional clashes by not Leicester’s followers wore purple
making decisions which angered both ribbons and Sussex’s wore yellow
sides E had to do a broker to end the feud in
Resulted in the execution of 2 courtiers: 1566 but not before ‘civil war had
Norfolk in 1572 after the Ridolfi Plot, seemed the likely outcome’
Essex after the Essex rebellion in 1601 Robert Cecil used his position as Master
Courtiers’ goal was to gain favour – she of the Court of Wards to extract £3000
made it clear that they would not gain a year but only £233 was his salary –
favour by constantly arguing corruption rose in the 1590s
Cecil and Leicester eventually realised Patronage provoked bitterness and
they could coexist in court jealousy – Northern Rebellion 1569
She appointed opposing factions –
Norfolk and Dudley in November 1562
and Whitgift in 1586 to balance out the
radically Protestant Leicester and
Walsingham
How successfully did Elizabeth exploit her gender?
Successful Not successful
All her Privy Chamber were women – She was prone to jealousy – she
they were very loyal and did not threatened to send Leicester to the
disclose information to courtiers and Tower when he remarried
ambassadors John Knox said that E being queen was
Men would bind themselves to her – displeasing to God
Hatton remained single to please her Cecil said that ‘of all others, Knox’s
She loved flattery and sought praise to name is the most odious here’
enhance her reputation – The Cult of In 1574, one of her ladies, Mary
Gloriana Shelton, married John Scudamore, a
How important was the Privy Council in the government in England?
Important Not important
Vital in influencing decisions and She was no obligation to accept their
gaining patronage advice but rarely ignored it
Summoned no more than a dozen at a She had the ultimate authority – she
time showing that, in numbers, she consulted widely and even confided in
knew they could be powerful foreign monarchs, but the decisions
Responded to crises such as French were hers to make
intervention in Scotland in 1559 or the Elizabeth mainly relied on the advice of
arrival of MQoS in 1568 Cecil, Dudley, Bacon, and Parry in her
E was open to influence from members early reign
of her court Lords Lieutenants informed the Privy
Earl of Sussex was much involved in Council of any local unrest
marriage negotiations – only joined the JPs were responsible for maintaining
Council after his sterling defeat of the law and order – they could be lazy
Northern Rebellion though and ignored ‘lesser offences’
No exercise of individual power – there like not attending church
was collective responsibility
Lord Lieutenants – heads of each county, informed the Privy Council of any unrest
1580s – permitted to retain the office for life
They levied forced loans, supervised JPs
Much of the work was done by Deputy Lieutenants
Average 50 JPs per county
JPs developed an esprit de corps – emphasis on local concerns, exclusion of wider concerns
1/3 JPs replaced upon E’s accession
How influential was William Cecil?
Influential Not influential
Their relationship lasted 40 years until He was not the only Councillor to
his death in 1598 whom the queen paid heed
He was 38 and she was 25 when she She would consult other councillors
took the throne – she saw him as a individually on some issues and
trustworthy, support system Leicester and Hatton were her
Created an intelligence service favourites for this
Managed the Houses of Commons and Hatton and Leicester were given
Lords nicknames
Created a propaganda system
Drafted E’s correspondence with
foreign ambassadors
Ensured efficiency on the Privy Council
Pursued a prudent economic policy so
that debt was small when E died
His work rate was incredible
Involved in all the important decisions
of E’s reign (most notably the execution
of MQoS)
Threatened to resign unless E agreed to
help the Lords of the Congregation in
, Scotland against the French invaders
Appointed Master of the Wards in 1561
Received up to 100 letters daily from
people asking for his favour
He had ‘hired pens’ such as Thomas
Norton who wrote a play ‘Gorboduc’
for the queen about disaster befalling a
kingdom that had no settled succession
Experienced – first worked under
Somerset and was a Privy Councillor in
1550 under Northumberland
How successfully did Elizabeth manage faction?
Successful Not successful
Often used it to her advantage and Leicester easily took offence, and he
played factions against one another was resentful of the rise of Christopher
When a duel between Howard and Hatton and of the influence of Thomas
Leicester became possible after Heneage
Howard accused Dudley of murdering Christopher Haigh said that warfare
his wife, E took marriage with Dudley nearly broke out because Leicester and
off the table Sussex
Managed factional clashes by not Leicester’s followers wore purple
making decisions which angered both ribbons and Sussex’s wore yellow
sides E had to do a broker to end the feud in
Resulted in the execution of 2 courtiers: 1566 but not before ‘civil war had
Norfolk in 1572 after the Ridolfi Plot, seemed the likely outcome’
Essex after the Essex rebellion in 1601 Robert Cecil used his position as Master
Courtiers’ goal was to gain favour – she of the Court of Wards to extract £3000
made it clear that they would not gain a year but only £233 was his salary –
favour by constantly arguing corruption rose in the 1590s
Cecil and Leicester eventually realised Patronage provoked bitterness and
they could coexist in court jealousy – Northern Rebellion 1569
She appointed opposing factions –
Norfolk and Dudley in November 1562
and Whitgift in 1586 to balance out the
radically Protestant Leicester and
Walsingham
How successfully did Elizabeth exploit her gender?
Successful Not successful
All her Privy Chamber were women – She was prone to jealousy – she
they were very loyal and did not threatened to send Leicester to the
disclose information to courtiers and Tower when he remarried
ambassadors John Knox said that E being queen was
Men would bind themselves to her – displeasing to God
Hatton remained single to please her Cecil said that ‘of all others, Knox’s
She loved flattery and sought praise to name is the most odious here’
enhance her reputation – The Cult of In 1574, one of her ladies, Mary
Gloriana Shelton, married John Scudamore, a
